"Coach Scott Skiles hinted after Monday's practice that shooting guard John Salmons was close to making a return to the starting lineup.

Salmons, who recently missed eight games with a right-hip injury, has come off the bench in the last three games including a 20-minute stint in last Saturday's loss to Detroit at the Bradley Center. But Monday was the first time Salmons practiced with the team and Skiles was asked afterward if it would still be awhile before Salmons returned to the starting lineup.

"Not necessarily," said Skiles. "He may go right back in. Trying to get him some sort of practice minutes in the game where he can get his legs back under him and everything, that can be difficult on him and difficult on us. We were able to have a good practice today and got him out there banging bodies and getting some contact so it's close to time to put him back in there for sure."

Skiles, who has used 16 different starting lineups this season, would like to establish a consistent group of starters at some point and getting Salmons back in the starting lineup would be a step in that direction."